Canberra Immigration Lawyers | ACT Nomination, Regional Visas & Reviews

← Australian immigration lawyers

Australian immigration legal services for clients in Canberra and the ACT, by video consultation — no need to travel to Melbourne.

Chua Tan Associates has handled Australian immigration law matters since 1990, and two of our lawyers are Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law with the Law Institute of Victoria. Immigration law is federal law: from our Melbourne office we act for Canberra clients by video conference on every kind of visa application, refusal review and judicial review, with documents lodged electronically. We work in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay and English.

Canberra immigration at a glance (as at October 2026)

• Canberra is a regional area: Every ACT postcode is a Home Affairs Category 2 "city and major regional centre", so Canberra can be used for 491 and 494 regional visas.
• ACT nomination (Canberra Matrix): 2026–27 places have not been announced. Tentative invitation rounds fall in the weeks of 12 October 2026, 25 January, 22 March and 24 May 2027; the October round issued 190 invitations only. Pathways include the ACT occupation list, Doctorate streamlined, Small Business Owner and Significant Economic Benefit.
• ACT-specific rules: Nominees may live in nearby NSW within a 30-minute commute of Canberra (such as Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra and Googong), and must commit to living and working in Canberra for two years after the visa is granted. 491 invitations are issued before 190 invitations.
• Visa refusals: Refusal and cancellation decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Review deadlines are very short, so contact us as soon as you receive a refusal letter.

Visas we handle for Canberra clients

• Skilled migration: Subclass 189 skilled independent, 190 state-nominated and 491 regional visas, and the subsequent 191 permanent visa.
• Employer sponsorship: Subclass 482 Skills in Demand, 186 Employer Nomination Scheme and 494 regional employer-sponsored visas, and DAMA labour agreements where available.
• Family visas: Partner visas (820/801 and 309/100), parent visas, child visas and other family visas.
• Business and investment: Follow-on applications and compliance for existing 188/888 visa holders.
• Refusals and cancellations: Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) reviews, judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, and requests for ministerial intervention.

Why choose us

• Complex matters are handled personally by Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, not general migration agents.
• Fees are charged in stages, with transparent pricing.
• We work with the firm's family law, criminal, estates and notary teams on matters that cross practice areas.

State nomination settings change often. This page is general information only and is not legal advice; please check the latest announcements on the state government and Department of Home Affairs websites.